Nowadays, people are increasingly turning to remote work. It would seem that everyone is beginning to realize the benefits of the practice, but let’s take a moment to consider some downsides.
Sure, the global market is huge and the offers are ever-increasing, but the competition is also fierce. For many people just starting out, this means they have to spend considerable time learning the ropes of online negotiation and communication before landing a suitable, well-paid job.
That is one of the main reasons why people have been turning to their own remote businesses, the two notable recent exceptions being dropshipping and specialized services.
You need not look very far for ideas, as it were. The pandemic has shown us how pretty much everything can be organized differently. Surges in online shopping have been obvious even among the elderly, not so tech-savvy people. Deliveries have taken a whole new dimension. People are using their own cars to offer taxi services.
That being said, everyone can come up with an idea or two on how to run an online business. Some vocations are more successful than others, due to the increased demand, but the same holds true for office work, too.
Here are some of the ideas how you can found and run a successful online business that requires only a solid internet connection and some computer skills.
Table of Contents
1. Online Tutoring Services
The most obvious success examples in this niche probably come from China. It would seem that the entire country has begun learning English language, resulting in a surge of online language schools employing tutors from around the globe.
While this may be a good source of additional income, it is rarely as profitable and stress-free as running your own tutoring service. We’re not talking only about language classes, mind you.
Tutoring has a long history in every corner of the world: from exam preparations to learning highly specialized courses. Speaking of which, did you know that many people make a living selling their pre-recorded courses? Of course, to be successful in the long run, you’ll need to work on your brand’s visibility and keep your offer up to date.
2. Blogging and Vlogging
There has been an increase in bloggers and vloggers, especially among younger generations. While many not-so-informed people think that these are lazy people looking for easy money, the truth cannot be more different.
It actually takes a lot of effort and knowledge to prepare and present quality content and keep doing it continually. To build a good reputation and achieve a large number of followers, bloggers and vloggers need to be highly active online and change their approach the moment the trend changes. Quite similar to online trading, actually.
Also, not every blog is a good blog. Even if you’re an expert in your field, you’ll still need to be literate and learn to write engaging content. With the majority of people nowadays scanning text rather than reading it, there are a lot of other tips to employ, too (e.g., inserting eye-catching images to break the text).
3. Writing and Copywriting
There are all sorts of writers. Some people write for fun, while others specialize in particular content. Resume writers, for example, have been in high demand of late. There are companies engaging only in resume writing, and much of the practice relies on templates… which is to say that everyone can learn it.
Unlike creative writers, bloggers and journalists, for example, resume writers need only two skills: proper grammar and knowledge of the market.
Copywriting, on the other hand, is one of the better paid online jobs. If you are experienced in this type of work, setting up your own business is likely to help you become independent very fast. The reason is simple. No matter the times, advertising is always in high demand.
4. SEO and Social Media Services
Namely, no matter the quality of a business, if it’s not on the first page of Google search results, it’s all for nothing. For a business to be successful, it needs to have great visibility and stellar customer support.
That’s where the SEO- and social media-craze originate. There are certifications and whole schools teaching people how to increase brands’ visibility, and the trend is only to reach its heights.
Even writers need to have basic knowledge of SEO if they are counting on varied projects.
That’s why SEO- and social media professionals can count on loads of projects. In fact, running a business dealing with this type of content optimization and marketing (even when it concerns email) is certain to be successful in the long run. It only takes the first step – finding the first reliable client – to get things moving.
5. Designing
Designers can also run successful online businesses, and we mean all kinds of designers. From logo designers to illustrators to website designers, there is plenty of work to schedule for everyone.
The key to being successful here is in finding a proper brand tone and focusing on a particular field. But, that only makes sense, doesn’t it? If you go around advertising logos, website design, 3D animation and illustration, no client will take you seriously.
If you’re planning to incorporate multiple design practices, it’s best to work on different segments of your business or partner with professionals in other designing fields.
Conclusion
As you can see, pretty much any skills can be marketable online. The only thing you need is in-depth trend research, a good website and the will to keep learning. The key in running just any kind of online business is in being flexible. Trends change over time and so do audiences, so you have to keep up with the trends. You need to be continuously vigilant to be able to recognize discrete shifts and act timely.
Don’t be afraid, though. Once you’ve learned the ropes and found out the best combination of factors that keep your business going, you will know how to adjust your approach and refine your offer. Practice makes perfect, and nowhere has this proverb been so true as it is in case of online work.